Small Cordgrass: A Salt-Tolerant Grass for Challenging Coastal Conditions
If you’re dealing with salty, wet conditions in your garden, you’ve probably discovered that most plants throw in the towel pretty quickly. Enter small cordgrass (Spartina maritima), a tough-as-nails perennial grass that laughs in the face of salt spray and soggy soils. But before you rush to plant it, there are some important things every gardener should know about this resilient grass.
What Is Small Cordgrass?
Small cordgrass is a perennial graminoid—basically a fancy way of saying it’s a grass-like plant that comes back year after year. This hardy grass forms dense clumps of narrow, arching green leaves that sway gracefully in coastal breezes. Come late summer, it produces delicate, feathery seed heads that add textural interest to the landscape.
You might also encounter this plant under its scientific synonyms Sporobolus maritimus or Spartina stricta, but whatever you call it, this grass means business when it comes to surviving in tough conditions.
Where Small Cordgrass Grows
Here’s where things get interesting: small cordgrass isn’t actually native to North America. Originally from Europe and North Africa’s Mediterranean coastal regions, this grass has made itself at home in parts of the United States. Currently, you can find established populations in Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York.
Should You Plant Small Cordgrass?
This is where we need to have an honest conversation. While small cordgrass isn’t currently listed as invasive, it is a non-native species that has naturalized in some areas. As responsible gardeners, we should consider native alternatives first.
Why You Might Consider It:
- Exceptional salt tolerance—perfect for coastal properties
- Excellent for erosion control on slopes and shorelines
- Low maintenance once established
- Thrives in wet, challenging conditions where other plants struggle
Why You Might Want to Skip It:
- It’s not native to North America
- Can spread aggressively via underground rhizomes
- Limited wildlife and pollinator benefits compared to native grasses
- Better native alternatives are available
Native Alternatives to Consider
Before committing to small cordgrass, consider these fantastic native alternatives that offer similar benefits while supporting local ecosystems:
- Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora): Native to Atlantic and Gulf coasts
- Saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens): Perfect for salt marshes and coastal areas
- Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata): Great for inland wet areas
Growing Conditions and Care
If you do decide to grow small cordgrass, here’s what you need to know to keep it happy:
Ideal Growing Conditions:
- Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours daily)
- Soil: Wet to moist, tolerates saline and brackish conditions
- Water: Consistently moist to wet soil
- Hardiness: USDA zones 7-10
Planting and Care Tips:
- Plant in spring after the last frost
- Space plants 2-3 feet apart to allow for spreading
- Water regularly the first year to establish roots
- Cut back in late winter before new growth appears
- Divide clumps every 3-4 years to prevent overcrowding
- Monitor spread and remove unwanted shoots
Garden Design and Landscape Use
Small cordgrass works best in specific landscape situations where its unique qualities shine:
- Coastal gardens: Perfect for properties near salt water
- Rain gardens: Handles both wet and dry periods
- Erosion control: Stabilizes slopes and shorelines
- Naturalized areas: Creates a meadow-like appearance
- Wildlife habitat: Provides cover for small animals and birds
The Bottom Line
Small cordgrass is undeniably tough and useful for challenging coastal conditions, but as gardeners, we have the opportunity to choose plants that both solve our problems and support native ecosystems. While this grass isn’t inherently harmful, opting for native cordgrass species gives you similar benefits while providing better habitat for local wildlife and pollinators.
If you’re dealing with salty, wet conditions, consider starting with native alternatives first. Your local ecosystem—and the birds, butterflies, and other creatures that depend on it—will thank you for making that choice.
